Bovine twitch



Feb. 8,- 1955 L. J. RAFOTH 2,701,550

BOVINE TWITCH Filed July 28, 1953 INVENTOR LESLIE J. RAFOTH ATTORNEY United States Patent BOVINE TWITCH Leslie J. Rafoth, Green Bay, Wis.

Application July 28, 1953, Serial No. 370,905

2 Claims. (Cl. 119-154) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, for all governmental purposes, throughout the world, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to a bovine twitch, or a device for restraining members of the bovine family, such as cows or bulls. The device consists of a plier-like instrument so constructed as to enable the user to apply pressure on the nostrils of the animal. This will be described in detail below and in the accompanying drawing.

The single figure of the drawing shows the various novel structural features.

The instrument is a plier-like device and consists of a pair of handles 1, pivoted at the throat by means of pin 2. In the same plane as the handles, and as integral extensions thereof, are curved jaws 3, ending in blunt bulbar nose portions 4. Pressure on the handles will cause the bulbar ends to exert a pressure substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the instrument. Integral with the curved jaws 3, are a pair of ofiset bars 5, separated from bars 3 by means of perpendicular portion 6. Bars are coextensive with jaws 3 and end in blunt nose portions 7 with transverse V- shaped grooves 8. In a preferred form, the rounded ends 4 of the jaws 3 do not touch each other, whereas the ends of the upper bars 5 do touch. The handles are provided with holes 9 and at their ends to accommodate a strap or rope, not shown.

In use, the bulbar ends of the jaws 4 are inserted into the nostrils of the animal, causing ends 7 and groove 8 of the upper bar to rest on the dorsal part of the nose proper. Upward pressure on the handles 1 causes the ends of the rounded jaws 3 and bars 5 to apply pressure on the nasal cartilage and nose proper, and the animal is thus easily subdued.

The device is useful in restraining animals while obtaining blood samples for Brucellosis tests, or for any other purpose where it is necessary to restrain cattle during handling or treatment.

I claim:

1. A device for restraining cattle comprising a pair of pivoted elongated handles; integral extensions on said handles forming a first pair of curved jaws, the length and curvature of the jaws being such as to keep their ends permanently out of contact; a bar provided on each one of said first pair of jaws integral therewith, and being ofiset from the jaws by a perpendicular portion, the remaining portion of said bars being parallel and coextensive with said first pair of jaws, and forming a second pair of jaws contacting at their ends When the device is in a closed position.

2. A device for restraining bovines comprising a pair of pivoted elongated handles; integral extensions on said handles forming a first pair of curved jaws; bulbar ends on said jaws adapted to be inserted into the nostrils of the bovine, said first pair of jaws being of such size and curvature as to maintain the bulbar ends permanently out of contact when the device is in a closed position; a bar provided on each one of said first pair of jaws, said bars being integral with said jaws and joined thereto by a portion perpendicular to both the jaw and bar, said bars proper being parallel to said first pair of jaws and forming with each other a second pair of jaws coextensive with the first pair; grooved ends on said second pair of jaws adapted to apply pressure to the dorsal part of the nose proper of the bovine when the bulbar ends are inserted into the bovines nostrils, said second pair of jaws being of such size as to be in contact with each other when the device is in a closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,547 Smith Apr. 16, 1907 1,396,427 Hatch Nov. 8, 1921 1,781,419 Wallace Nov. 11, 1930 2,595,432 Wendt May 6, 1952' 2,608,891 Haussler Sept. 2, 1952 

